Curcuma plant named ‘Pink Magic’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Curcuma plant having multi-colored inflorescences with a dominant pink color.

Botanical classification: Curcuma hybrid.

Varietal denomination: ‘Pink Magic’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Curcumaplant known by the varietal name ‘Pink Magic’. The new variety wasdiscovered in 2016 in Chiangmai, Thailand as the result of a plannedbreeding program with the purposes of providing Curcuma plants with newcoloration and characteristics. The new variety is the result of a crossbetween an unnamed and unpatented Curcuma alismatifolia variety (femaleparent) and an unnamed and unpatented Curcuma aurantiaca variety (maleparent). The new variety is similar to its female parent in exhibitinglarge upper inflorescence bracts, but differs from its female parent inlower inflorescence bract color (reddish brown for ‘Pink Magic’ comparedto green for its female parent). ‘Pink Magic’ exhibits a similar lowerinflorescence bract color to its male parent, but exhibits larger upperinflorescence bracts than its male parent. Tissue culture and bulbasexual reproductions of the new variety first occurred in 2016 inChiangmai, Thailand. ‘Pink Magic’ has been trial and field tested andhas been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain trueto type through successive propagations. The present invention has notbeen evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. Thephenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change inthe genotype of the plant.

Its large upper inflorescence bract size and overall inflorescencecoloration distinguish ‘Pink Magic’ from other Curcuma varieties knownto the breeder. Further, when ‘Pink Magic’ is compared to Curcuma hybrid‘Pink Neon’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/501,645), thevarieties are similar in exhibiting multi-colored inflorescences with adominant pink color. However, the leaves of ‘Pink Neon’ are narrowerthan those of ‘Pink Magic’ and ‘Pink Neon’ exhibits upper flower bractsthat are elliptic in shape, while the upper flower bracts of ‘PinkMagic’ are oblong in shape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing taken at approximately 60 days ofage illustrates the new variety, with the colors being as nearly true asis possible with color illustrations of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of thenew variety at approximately 60 days of age. The data which definesthese characteristics was collected under natural light in Chiangmai,Thailand. Plants of the new variety were grown in 20.3 cm pots in aplastic greenhouse in Chiangmai, Thailand and watered 1-2 times a day,if needed. Color references are primarily to the 2016 HTML Colour Chartand The 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society ofLondon, 6th Edition, except where general color terms are used.

PLANT

-   Time to initiate roots: About 20-30 days at about 30-33° C.-   Time to produce a rooted young plant: About 45 days at about 30-33°    C.-   Root description: Fibrous, with a pale brown colored (A57C55) milk    tank.-   Number of rhizomes produced per plant: From 1-3.-   Rhizome diameter: 4.0 cm.-   Growth habit: Annual.-   Plant height (soil level to top of inflorescences): 40.0 cm.-   Plant diameter: 30.0 cm.-   Pubescence: Light pubescence present on both surfaces of leaves, as    well as upper and lower bract lower surfaces.-   Disease resistance/susceptibility: None observed.-   Pest resistance/susceptibility: None observed.-   Temperature tolerance: 20-40° C. or tropical climate conditions.-   Drought tolerance: Unknown.-   Seed/fruit: None observed to date.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Average number per plant.—5.        -   Length.—25.0 cm.        -   Width.—10.0 cm.        -   Shape of leaf (generally).—Moderately elliptic.        -   Shape of apex.—Attenuate.        -   Shape of base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin description.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Pubescence            present.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Color.—Young leaves: Upper surface: Green (C5E96E). Lower            surface: Green (7BA058). Mature leaves: Upper surface: Green            (578441). Lower surface: Green (3B631D).        -   Veins.—Appearance: Pinnate and penninerved. Color: Upper            surface: Green (55783C). Lower surface: Green (55783C).        -   Leaf sheaths.—Length: 21.0 cm. Width: 2.5 cm. Texture: Upper            surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Smooth. Color: Upper            surface: RHS 142A. Lower surface: RHS 176B. Venation:            Pattern: Parallel. Color: RHS 140B.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Inflorescence arrangement: 1 inflorescence per shoot.-   Inflorescence number per plant: From 1-3.-   Inflorescence length: 20.0 cm.-   Inflorescence diameter: 8.0 cm.-   Fragrance: None.-   Flower bracts:    -   -   Total number per inflorescence.—Approximately 20.        -   Upper bracts.—Number: Approximately 10. Length: 4.0 cm.            Width: 3.0 cm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Ovate.            Margin: Entire. Texture: Upper surface: Smooth. Lower            surface: Downy. Color: Upper surface: Pink (DF2477). Lower            surface: Pink (C12E74).        -   Lower bracts.—Number: Approximately 10. Length: 3.0 cm.            Width: 3.0 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Mucronate. Base:            U-shaped. Margin: Entire. Texture: Upper surface: Smooth.            Lower surface: Downy. Color: Upper surface: Green (2E3919)            with a brown (361A12) distal end. Lower surface: Green            (2E3919) with a brown (361A12) distal end.-   Flowers:    -   -   Number per inflorescence.—Approximately 50.        -   Continuity of flowering.—1 month.        -   Lastingness of an individual flower.—1-2 days.        -   Length.—3.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—2.0 cm.        -   Appearance.—Orchidaceous form.        -   Upper petals.—Upper surface color: Pale yellow (C2997F).            Lower surface color: Pale yellow (C2997F).        -   Lower petals.—Upper surface color: Pale yellow (C2997F) with            a purple (934267) lip and yellow (A66E2E) labellum ridge.            Lower surface color: Pale yellow (C2997F) with a            purple (934267) lip and yellow (A66E2E) labellum ridge.        -   Flower buds.—Length: 4.0 cm. Diameter: 1.0 cm. Shape: Round.            Texture: Smooth. Color: RHS 8D.        -   Sepals.—Number: 3. Calyx arrangement: In overlapping            circles. Length: 2.0 cm. Width: 0.5 cm. Overall shape:            Elliptic. Apex: Elliptic. Base: Connected in a cone shape.            Texture: Smooth (both surfaces). Color: Upper surface: RHS            10D. Lower surface: RHS 10D.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—20.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.        -   Texture.—Downy.        -   Angle.—Upright.        -   Color.—Green (827912).

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—1.-   Filament:    -   -   Length.—2.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.0 mm.        -   Color.—Pale cream (C6AE98).-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—2-lobed.        -   Length.—5.0 mm.        -   Color.—Cream (B88967).-   Pollen: None observed.-   Pistils:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—1.0 cm.-   Style:    -   -   Length.—1.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—2.0 mm.        -   Color.—Pale cream (C6AE98).-   Stigma:    -   -   Length.—2.0 mm.        -   Diameter.—2.0 mm.        -   Color.—Pale cream (C6AE98).

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Curcuma plant, as is hereinillustrated and described.